Archive for year: 2011

It’s Christmas time again, the bell tinkles as the afternoon breeze comes through, and the little bird looks out our shop window at the world going by; how busy we all are, how tired. If you’re anything like us you will be feeling that although the end of the year has come too soon, it has not come soon enough! It’s hard to feel like celebrating when things in life are so difficult at times, but that’s why we need to celebrate! To remember the good things, and the most important things.

From all at Adam’s Garden, may the stresses of your year fall away, and may your Christmas be a joyous one.

Or should we say ‘pet’?
We have been staring lovingly at this cute little carnivore. It is a ‘pitcher plant’ and quite exquisite in its own way. There are two types in store at the moment, this tall one, and also one called a nepenthes which is a strange sort of plant with hanging gourd-shape fly-capturing extensions coming off the ends of the leaves. What darlings!

Congratulations to the year of 2011! Stay safe and remember to go for your dreams no matter what! If you don’t get the results you want, remember there is always a back door or a window to get where you want to go. It’s up to you.

Here are a couple of corsages from last weeks graduations…

Blue-purple Singapore orchids on diamante bracelet, with ivy leaves

Dainty white spray-rose wrist corsage with silver wire and ivy leaves

So you love lilies but hate the pollen and the yellow stains! What can you do?

Firstly – stop! Don’t rub it! Don’t wet it!

We have found the best way to remove lily pollen is to get a piece of sticky-tape and dab it gently picking up the pollen. Not rubbing, just lightly dab and lift. We have had success using this method, not only on clothing, but also on the flower itself, if very gentle.

Remember lily pollen is almost like a paint pigment – add water and it will colour whatever it’s on. Rub and it will stain.

But by far the easiest and best way to avoid getting stains is to remove the lily stamen before it drops the pollen.

Hope this helps!
The Adam’s Garden Team.

Last week was hectic getting multitudinous table and reception arrangements ready for corporate suites at the GC 600. Here’s a few snapshots of some of the things that went out.

Reception arrangement in tall square vase with: White Singapore orchids, white tiger (Asiatic) lilies, white roses, white carnations, molucca balm, tropical leaves.

Table arrangement in a vase with: Yellow Asiatic lilies (to open), dark purple Vanda orchids, and greenery.

Reception arrangement in tall cylinder vase with: White anthuriums, white oriental lilies (to open), white cymbidium orchid, molucca balm, pussy willow, dusty millar, and tropical leaves.

Table arrangement in 15cm fishbowl vase with: White anthuriums, and tropical greenery.

What’s the best way to buy flowers? Is it cheaper to buy flowers online? We have been getting these questions more lately, so here’s our brief wrap-up for you.
If you can’t get into the shop or are ordering something for a friend who lives a distance away, the next best thing is phoning your local florist, or the florist closest to where you want your flowers delivered, and talking through what you would like with them. Even ask a friend in the area to recommend somewhere. You can talk to the real people and go through the occasion and how you would like your flowers. Many individual florist shops also have online ordering now, which is handy if you need to place an order after hours, although as a florist I still prefer to talk to you!
If you are needing to order for a distance away or overseas and do not know any florist shop in the area, the next best way is to order using an established relay service such as interflora, or somewhere like direct2florist which enables you to order through local florists. You can do this online or by going into your local florist and getting them to place the order for you. Although those companies may have a fee for processing.

Be aware that unlike many items flowers are not cheaper online in most cases, prices will in the case of individual florists be about the same as in-store, (though possibly more, as the cost of setting up and maintaining a website must be taken into account), and also many relay or third-party flower ordering companies take either a fee per order, or a percentage of the value, leaving the florist that makes the order  with less than the value you have paid, which takes away from the value you receive in flowers.
In some cases we have seen third-party companies taking up to 80% of the value, and we believe this is unfair to the customer, when if they only knew that if they were to call the local florist directly, they may find themselves saving a great deal.
For example –
At the time of writing this, a little research shows that one third party site charges $102 for 12 long stem red roses, one relay company charges $108, but our price is $75.
To avoid the charges of middle men shop local if you can! That’s our advice.
Hope this helps,
Adam’s Garden Florist
Flowers Gold Coast

Lately soft tones seem to be very popular… here are just a couple of snaps from the studio…

Also new in this week: 
Goats milk soap – lovely and gentle and fragrance free!
New silk flowers including: hydrangeas in lilac, green and white, white amaryllis (these are so sublime!), green cymbidiums, and succulents.

Waratahs are stunning flowers, but only available for a short season.

Just another example of a bright upright box arrangement. This one includes Asiatic lilies, iris, gerberas, and heliconias.